President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State Visit to Japan offered a distinct mix of ceremony, strategy, and personal warmth, with a lighthearted halo-halo gesture becoming one of the most memorable symbols of the deepening bond between Manila and Tokyo.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Acting Secretary Dave Gomez said Marcos brought Emperor Naruhito a traditional oversized halo-halo glass and spoon after learning through mutual friends that the Japanese monarch had developed a fondness for the Filipino dessert.
The gesture added a distinctly Filipino touch to a visit already marked by rare diplomatic honors, including the State Banquet hosted for Marcos and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos at the Imperial Palace.
Gomez said Emperor Naruhito later asked palace chefs to prepare halo-halo for members of the Imperial Family, including the royal children, who reportedly enjoyed the dessert.
After the banquet, Gomez said, the Emperor even showed members of the Philippine delegation photographs of the halo-halo gathering.
“Pagkatapos nung state banquet, bago kami umalis, kasama ng ibang mga opisyal ng Gabinete ng Pangulo, pinakita pa ng Emperor. Mayroon siyang dinukot na mga litrato, mga picture niya ng halo-halo. Talagang nagustuhan nila yung ating halo-halo,” Gomez said in an RTVM Malacañang post on YouTube.
For Gomez, the exchange reflected more than a personal gesture. It underscored the warmth and maturity of Philippine-Japanese relations as the two countries mark the 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties this year.
“Kaya napakahalaga nitong pagbisita natin. Talagang napaka-overwhelming nung reception nila kagabi sa ating Pangulo at ating Unang Ginang. They were received by their Imperial Highness, the Emperor and the Empress,” Gomez said.
According to Gomez, Marcos’ visit was only the second State Visit and State Banquet hosted by the Emperor since the pandemic, making the reception a rare honor for the Philippine leader and the First Lady.
He said the presence of key members of the Imperial Family, including the heir apparent, further showed the importance Japan placed on the visit.
Gomez also pointed to the long-standing rapport between Marcos and Emperor Naruhito, saying their relationship had been shaped by years of acquaintance, shared experiences, and their common connection to Oxford University in the United Kingdom.
“At nakakatuwang panoorin ang Pangulo at ang Emperor kagabi dahil makikita mo kung gaano na kalalim yung bond, yung relationship nilang dalawa na developed through the years, through mutual shared experiences,” Gomez said.
He also noted that the Philippines holds a personal place in the Emperor’s history, as his stopover in the country in 1974, while en route to Australia, was considered the first foreign soil he set foot on.
Beyond the palace reception and personal exchanges, Gomez stressed that the State Visit carried a full diplomatic and economic agenda, with Marcos holding high-level meetings on trade, infrastructure, defense, maritime security, energy, and regional stability.
He said the President’s schedule was packed from morning until late evening, reflecting efforts to translate the visit into concrete gains for Filipinos through expanded investments, development cooperation, and stronger strategic collaboration.
“So yung mga ganitong foreign trips, hindi lang ito puro ceremonial. Marami talagang naibabalik na benepisyo para sa ating bansa,” Gomez said.
The visit comes as the Philippines and Japan continue to strengthen their partnership after decades of reconciliation, mutual respect, and growing alignment on economic and security priorities.